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Image processing method and image processing apparatus

a technology of image processing and image recording, applied in the direction of duplicating/marking methods, printing, instruments, etc., can solve the problems of inability to apply general laser devices, inability to achieve complete image recording, image erasing, etc., and achieve the effect of sufficient image erasing tim

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-12-13
RICOH KK
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing method and an image processing apparatus, each of which is capable of ensuring sufficient image-erasing time by expanding image-recording and image-erasing areas and of complete image erasing.
[0047] In the image processing method according to any one the first to third aspects of the present invention, a laser beam is parallel light, and the laser scanning speed for the peripheral region surrounding the central region of the optical axis of the laser beam is lower than the laser scanning speed for the central region, the laser output for the peripheral region is greater than the output for the central region, or an overlapping area between a laser irradiation area that corresponds to a peripheral region surrounding a central region of the optical axis of the laser beam and a nearby laser irradiation area is larger than an overlapping area between a laser irradiation area that corresponds to the central region and the nearby laser irradiation area. Thus, even when parallel light like a defocused beam is used, it is possible to uniformly impart laser beam energy to the medium regardless of the beam's position on the medium, to achieve extensive printing by expanding an area to be printed, to ensure sufficient time available for image erasing, and to achieve complete image-erasing.
[0049] In the image processing apparatus, the laser application unit emits a laser beam, and the laser beam adjusting unit changes the light intensity of the laser emitted from the laser application unit. As a result, the degradation of a thermoreversible recording medium due to repetitive cycles of image recording and image erasing can be effectively prevented.

Problems solved by technology

However, in cases where an image is printed on or erased from a thermoreversible recording medium extensively and where a thermoreversible recording medium is attached to a delivery container used for distribution lines for non-contact recording thereon, it results in failure to achieve complete image recording, in particular image erasing, due to energy shortage in the laser beam, depending on the distance between the medium and the laser source-equipped image recording apparatus and / or on the passing speed of the medium on the line.
The methods described above, however, has a problem of requiring a special device for mirror deformation and thus cannot be applied to general laser devices.

Method used

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Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

preparation example 1

Preparation of Thermoreversible Recording Medium

[0350] A thermoreversible recording medium that offers temperature-dependent reversible changes in color tone (between clear state and color-developed state) was prepared as follow.

—Support—

[0351] A milky polyester film (Tetron Film U2L98W by Teijin Dupont Films Japan Ltd.) of 125 μm thickness was used as a support.

—Under Layer—

[0352] A coating solution for under layer was prepared by mixing together 30 parts by mass of styrene-butadiene copolymer (PA-9159 by Nippon A&L Inc.), 12 parts by mass of polyvinyl alcohol resin (Poval PVA103 by Kuraray Co., Ltd.), 20 parts by mass of hollow particles (Microsphere R-300 by Matsumoto Yushi-Seiyaku Co., Ltd.) and 40 parts by mass of water, followed by 1 hour stirring until homogenous.

[0353] Next, the support was coated with the obtained coating solution for under layer by means of a wire bar, heated at 80° C. for 2 minutes and dried to form an under layer of 20 μm thickness.

—Reversible Therm...

preparation example 2

Preparation of Thermoreversible Recording Medium

[0363] A thermoreversible recording medium that offers temperature-dependent reversible changes in transparency (between clear state and clouded state) was prepared as follow.

—Support—

[0364] A transparent PET film (Lumilar 175-T12 by Toray Industries, Inc.) of 175 μm thickness was used as a support.

—Reversible Thermosensitive Recording Layer (Recording Layer)—

[0365] In a glass bottle, 3 parts by mass of low-molecular-weight organic substance represented by the following Structural Formula (5) and 7 parts by mass of docosyl benenate were added in a resin solution containing 26 parts by mass of vinyl chloride copolymer (ML110 by Zeon Corp.) dissolved in 210 parts by mass of methyl ethyl ketone. Ceramic beads of 2 mm diameter were placed in the glass bottle, followed by dispersing treatment for 48 hours by using a paint shaker (by Asada Iron Works, Co., Ltd.). In this way a uniform dispersion solution was obtained.

[0366] Next, 4 part...

preparation example 3

Preparation of Thermoreversible Recording Medium

[0369] A thermoreversible recording medium of Preparation Example 3 was prepared as in Preparation Example 1 except that 0.03 parts by mass of photothermal conversion material (Excolor® IR-14 by Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.) was added in the recording layer upon fabrication of the thermoreversible recording medium.

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Abstract

To provide an image processing method including at least an image recording step and an image erasing step, wherein a laser beam is parallel light and wherein the laser scanning speed for the peripheral region surrounding the central region of the optical axis of the laser beam is lower than the laser scanning speed for the central region, the laser output for the peripheral region is greater than the output for the central region, or an overlapping area between a laser irradiation area that corresponds to a peripheral region surrounding a central region of the optical axis of the laser beam and a nearby laser irradiation area is larger than an overlapping area between a laser irradiation area that corresponds to the central region and the nearby laser irradiation area.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image processing method which offers excellent image erasability by being capable of expanding image recording and image erasing areas, ensuring sufficient image-erasing time and complete image erasing, and to an image processing apparatus using the image processing method. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] A non-contacting laser based method is proposed as a method of creation or deletion of an image on or from a thermoreversible recording medium (hereinafter referred to as “reversible thermal sensitive medium,”“recording medium,” or “medium” in some cases) whose surface has irregularities and as a method of creation or deletion of an image on such a medium at a distance (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2000-136022). This method adopts non-contacting recording on shipping containers used for distribution of goods, wherein the containers are form...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): B41J11/60
CPCB41J2/471B41J2/4753G02B26/105B41M5/363B41M5/305
Inventor ISHIMI, TOMOMIKAWAHARA, SHINYAHOTTA, YOSHIHIKO
Owner RICOH KK